Welcome to my genealogy blog! This is a record of my journey to discover the details between the dates. Some of my favorite blogging prompts are From the Shoebox, Wordless Wednesday, and Saturday Night Genealogy Fun (SNGF). I also post excerpts from historic household guides and cookbooks under Herstoryan's Hearth. Poems, pictures, crazy stories, and tip and tricks round out the rest. Use the search box below to zero in on a subject and feel free to leave a comment or share what you find. Don't forget to follow me on twitter! I look forward to sharing my stories with you.

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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Nelson Grove cemetery is a rural cemetery about 9 miles east of Gainesville, Texas. The first burial was a 14 year old girl named Mollie Nelson who died in 1875 from pneumonia and the measles.

My 3rd great grandparents, Madison D. and Harriet (Miller) Lynch, also died in 1875. Harriet died 08 Mar 1875 and Madison died a few weeks later on 06 May 1875. They left 5 children orphaned. My great great grandmother, Alice Louise (Lynch) Creel, was only four years old at the time.

According to the historical marker on site, the cemetery and surrounding land was deeded to the Cooke County judge in 1877 for use as a "school, church, and burying ground." Several members of the Lynch family are buried in this cemetery. It is unknown whether Madison and Harriet are buried here or on their land. The cemetery wasn't donated for public use until 2 years after they died.

However, some researchers have said that they are buried at Nelson Grove Cemetery which is entirely likely. Madison owned 80 acres of the J. Banning land grant and 160 acres of the Elizabeth Spencer land grant which bordered the Nelson's land. R. C. Nelson was appointed administrator of the Estate of Madison D. Lynch after he died. It is entirely possible that Madison and Harriet are buried near R. C. Nelson's daughter, Mollie in that shady grove that later became Nelson Grove Cemetery.

The stone pictured above is one of several unmarked stones located next to the Lynch family graves. Could one of these stones belong to Madison and Harriet? Mollie Nelson's grave is also "unmarked."

2 comments:

Great picture, and I liked reading about the history of cemetery. Reminds me of my stepfather's family - the Jones' had a "burying ground" on what is now the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. No engraved stones, just stones. Beautiful, but for a genealogist, not too satisfying.